English / ERV
Job 32
Easy-to-Read Version, 2006
- 1Then Job’s three friends gave up trying to answer him, because he was so sure that he was innocent.
- 2But there was a young man there named Elihu son of Barakel. He was a descendant of a man named Buz. Elihu was from the family of Ram. He became very angry because Job kept saying he was innocent—that he was right and God was wrong.
- 3Elihu was also angry with Job’s three friends because they could not answer him, and yet they still considered him guilty of doing wrong.
- 4Elihu was the youngest one there, so he had waited until everyone finished talking.
- 5But when he saw that Job’s three friends had nothing more to say, his anger forced him to speak.
- 6So here’s what Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite said: “I am only a young man, and you are all older. That is why I was afraid to tell you what I think.
- 7I thought to myself, ‘Older people should speak first. They have lived many years, so they have learned many things.’
- 8But it is the spirit in people, the breath from God All-Powerful, that makes them understand.
- 9Old men are not the only wise people. They are not the only ones who understand what is right.
- 10“So please listen to me, and I will tell you what I think.
- 11I waited patiently while you men talked. I listened to the answers you gave as you searched for the right words.
- 12I listened carefully to what you said. Not one of you proved Job wrong. Not one of you answered his arguments.
- 13You men cannot say that you have found wisdom. The answer to Job’s arguments must come from God, not people.